Becoming a Micro Entrepreneur in France: A Foreigner's Registration Guide
最終更新日: 2026年6月1日
Foreigners can open a micro-entrepreneur business in France this year, but your nationality determines the visa you need before you click “submit.” This guide walks through the exact paperwork, revenue ceilings, social charges, and common mistakes for 2026.
Last updated: June 1, 2026
Eligibility and visa requirements
- EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: register immediately on arrival; no residence card required.
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: must hold one of the following multi-year permits BEFORE applying:
- Passeport talent
- Carte de séjour pluriannuelle – entrepreneur/profession libérale
- French consulates no longer accept micro-entrepreneur registrations from abroad. You must be physically resident in France and provide a French residential address plus a French IBAN.
Revenue ceilings and activity categories for 2026
Activity type | Annual ceiling (turnover) |
|---|---|
Vente de marchandises (trade, resale) | €188 700 |
Prestations de services (services) | €77 700 |
If you exceed the ceiling for two consecutive years, you automatically exit the micro regime. |
Document checklist
Prepare scans in PDF or JPEG (max 10 MB each):
- Passport (photo page + visa/residence card if non-EU)
- Proof of French address dated within three months (utility bill, lease contract, or rental guarantor letter)
- French bank account IBAN (how to open one)
- Short activity description (maximum 250 characters)
- Optional: APE/NAF code if you already know it
- Artisans: diploma or proof of professional qualification, plus sworn declaration of no criminal convictions
- Commercial sellers: if you plan to buy/sell goods, note the RCS registration (see next section)
Step-by-step registration process
- Choose your Centre de Formalités des Entreprises (CFE) online at auto-entrepreneur.urssaf.fr. The platform files simultaneously with INSEE, URSSAF, and tax authorities.
- Complete the five-screen form:
- Personal details and address
- Activity start date (cannot be more than 30 days in the past)
- Activity category (trade, artisanal, or liberal services)
- Income-tax option: standard micro-BIC/micro-BNC or versement libératoire (1 % commerce, 1.7 % services provided your 2025 reference tax income did not exceed €27 478)
- Tick the box if you qualify for the first-year exemption (forecast turnover ≤ €42 900 commerce / €17 630 services and you have never had a micro activity before)
- Upload the documents above.
- Submit and download the confirmation receipt (récépissé).
- Within 15 days of starting activity, log in to net-entreprises.fr and file the “Déclaration d’activité.” Penalty for late filing: €150.
- Receive your SIREN and APE codes by email or postal mail within 8–30 calendar days.
- Additional registrations based on activity:
- Commercial resale: register with Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés (RCS) via the local Greffe du Tribunal de Commerce. Fee: €25.88.
- Artisanal trades: register with Répertoire des Métiers (RM) via the Chambre de Métiers et de l’Artisanat (CMA). Fee: €93.44.
Fees and processing time in 2026
Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
URSSAF online registration | €0 | No filing fee |
RCS Greffe fee (commerce) | €25.88 | Paid at time of RCS registration |
RM CMA fee (artisan) | €93.44 | Paid at time of RM registration |
Processing time (URSSAF) | 8–30 days | From complete application |
Late activity declaration penalty | €150 | Imposed after 15 days |
Social charges and tax summary
Social contributions are calculated on turnover each quarter (due end of April, July, October, and January).
Activity type | Social-contribution rate | Versement libératoire rate | Micro-tax abatement |
|---|---|---|---|
Commerce | 12.3 % | 1 % | 71 % |
Services libérales | 21.2 % | 1.7 % | 50 % |
Services artisanaux | 21.1 % | 1.7 % | 50 % |
Healthcare: affiliation to Assurance Maladie is automatic. Cotisation subsidiaire maladie is 0 % below €8 227 turnover; 6.5 % above. |
New micro-entrepreneurs qualify for a 12-month exemption on flat-rate social contributions if forecast turnover stays under €42 900 (commerce) or €17 630 (services). You still declare turnover quarterly even if the amount due is zero.
Common pitfalls
- Wrong start date: the system allows a start date up to 30 days in the past, not more. Choose carefully if you have already invoiced clients.
- French IBAN only: transfers from Wise, Revolut, or non-French banks are rejected.
- Address mismatch: the utility bill must match the address you enter in the form exactly. Hotels, Airbnb, or temporary Paris sublets are rarely accepted.
- Artisan qualification: hairdressers, plumbers, electricians, and other regulated trades need proof of diploma or professional experience sworn before a notary.
- Quarterly silence: failing to declare zero turnover triggers late-payment interest and €150 penalties.
- RCS vs RM confusion: selling handmade jewelry online is commerce (RCS), not artisanal activity (RM) unless you personally craft each piece.
- Bank reference letters: some banks require the SIREN before they open a business account. Use an online bank that accepts the temporary SIRET issued on the URSSAF confirmation receipt to break the loop.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register as micro-entrepreneur while on a student or visitor visa?
No. Non-EU nationals must hold a passeport talent or carte de séjour entrepreneur. Student visas do not authorize self-employment.
Do I need a separate business address?
No. Your home address is acceptable as long as it is your primary residence and the lease does not forbid professional activity.
Can my spouse work in the business?
Only if they also register as micro-entrepreneur or obtain a work permit linked to their own residence card.
What happens if I exceed the ceiling?
You exit the micro regime automatically on 1 January of the following year. You must then register under the régime réel simplified or standard.
Is VAT charged?
Not until turnover exceeds €91 900 (commerce) or €36 800 (services) for two consecutive years. You can opt for VAT voluntarily at any time.
Can I deduct expenses?
Under the micro regime, expenses are not itemized. The fixed abatement (71 % or 50 %) is deemed to cover costs.
How do I close the activity?
File the cessation form on auto-entrepreneur.urssaf.fr. Social charges stop the day after cessation. Final declaration is due within 60 days.
Do I need an accountant?
Not mandatory, but many foreigners hire one for the first year to verify their quarterly declarations (~€300–€500 per year).
If you're settling in France and need to read contracts, invoices, and government portals in French, Migaku can help you get comfortable with the language you’ll use every day as a micro entrepreneur.